Laguna vice mayor shot dead

STA. MARIA, Laguna — The vice-mayor of this town was fatally shot by unidentified men while playing billiards just opposite his home in Barangay IV Poblacion Sunday night.

Vice Mayor Rex Emmanuel Real, 45, was playing at Dick Real’s Billiard Hall at about 9:15 p.m. on Sunday when unidentified suspects shot him several times in the body.

Real did not reach the Cailes District Hospital in Pakil town alive due to multiple gunshot wounds.

While police were still digging into the case, Real’s relatives said that the victim’s political detractors could be behind the killing.

After serving as municipal councilor for three consecutive terms, Real was elected as vice mayor in the last elections.

Prior to his assumption to office, he had filed several graft charges against his political rivals before the office of the Ombudsman, one of which was the P20-million alleged irregularities in the building of the Sta. Maria public market.

Real’s wife described the victim as a good husband, father, and neighbor.

She is asking for a speedy resolution of the case and justice for the death of her husband. — With Ed Amoroso